Arava
fda sheet

Arava
msds (material safety sheet)

Arava
Synthesis Reference

Arava
Molecular Weight

Arava
Melting Point

165-166 oC

Arava
H2O Solubility

21 mg/L (poorly soluble)

Arava
State

Solid

Arava
LogP

2.659

Arava
Dosage Forms

Tablet

Arava
Indication

For the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Arava
Pharmacology

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor indicated in adults for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an auto-immune disease characterized by high T-cell activity. T cells have two pathways to synthesize pyrimidines: the salvage pathways and the de novo synthesis. At rest, T lymphocytes meet their metabolic requirements by the salvage pathway. Activated lymphocytes need to expand their pyrimidine pool 7- to 8-fold, while the purine pool is expanded only 2- to 3-fold. To meet the need for more pyrimidines, activated T cells use the de novo pathway for pyrimidine synthesis. Therefore, activated T cells, which are dependent on de novo pyrimidine synthesis, will be more affected by leflunomide's inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase than other cell types that use the salvage pathway of pyrimidine synthesis.